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Factors controlling the colonial structure of Pediastrum tetras (Chlorophyceae)

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Abstract

Accounting for morphological plasticity in phytoplankton populations is relevant for taxonomy, systematic/evolutionary, and ecological studies. In this work, the green alga Pediastrum tetras (Ehrenberg) Ralfs was used to describe the variation in population size structure over its growth cycle and to analyze responses to changes in biotic and abiotic factors. Pediastrum cultures reached a final stable concentration in approximately 10 days. This density (8 × 105 cells ml−1) remained stable for at least another 13 days and the intrinsic growth rate was 0.24 ± 0.01 day−1. In the exponential phase, the relative number of single cells and the proportion of large cells (with vesicles inside) within colonies increased. When density peaked, a relative increase of single cells as well as small cells in new colonies took place. Finally, during the stationary phase, the trend reversed: fewer single cells and a larger cell size (without vesicles) were observed. Results indicated that nutrient supply could affect population structure, diminishing the proportion of eight-cell colonies. Daphnia magna Straus significantly reduced the Pediastrum population density due to predation, and this led to a significant decrease in the density of the largest colonies. In addition, info-chemicals induced a slight increase in the density of the largest colonies compared to the control treatment. Our study suggests a possible trade-off in P. tetras colonial size in natural environments: during the stationary growth period in a lake, Pediastrum populations tend to increase in size for efficient use of nutrients, while they decrease in size in the presence of herbivores.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia for this project CGL2006-02891. This study was supported by a University of Valencia fellowship awarded to Matilde Segura. We would like to acknowledge Jose Larrosa for his help during the experimental setup, American Journal Experts for reviewing English language usage, and our colleagues, Augusto Comas (in Cuba) and Miguel Álvarez-Cobelas (in Spain), for providing us with interesting references and comments.

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  1. Integrative Ecology Group, Institute “Cavanilles” of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Apdo. Oficial 2085, 46071, Valencia, Spain

    Carmen Rojo, Matilde Segura, María A. Rodrigo & Guillem Salazar

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  1. Carmen Rojo
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  2. Matilde Segura
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Correspondence to Carmen Rojo.

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Rojo, C., Segura, M., Rodrigo, M.A. et al. Factors controlling the colonial structure of Pediastrum tetras (Chlorophyceae). Hydrobiologia 617, 143–155 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9542-6

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